New research reveals how philanthropy can improve your workforce.
Employees who are involved in “workplace giving” programs are more engaged and prouder of their employer, according to results from a new Australian study.
Workplace giving ranges in format, and includes payroll giving, employers matching donations, workplace funding and employer grants.
The study from The Australian Charities Fund found allowing workplace giving generated more engagement in the workplace, correlating an increase in productivity. It also revealed those interested in workplace giving held the importance of their organization’s image, as well as its community involvement, in high regard.
The research showed that just 34% of employees took part in workplace giving programs, but 61% expressed an interest in getting involved.
The positive impacts on employee morale and organizational culture were highlighted in the study as direct consequences of employee giving programs.
Outside of direct business benefits, the study found enabling workplace giving resulted in participating employees becoming more charitable overall. “This creates more new money for charity,” Edward Kerr, CEO of The Australian Charities Fund, said.
The study found the highest-ranking forms of workplace giving were (in order): payroll giving, which is having part of an employee’s pay directly transferred to a charity; community partnerships; disaster appeals and volunteering time.
